Five Ladies and a Forklift

This is the enriching story of how one woman’s passion turned into a multimillion-dollar nonprofit that saves thousands of babies each year.

Five Ladies and a Forklift recounts the inspiring story of how Judy launched Cribs for Kids®—from her early struggles trying to convince others of the importance of safe sleep to the creation of the public-private partnership model that has allowed the organization to transform into a multimillion-dollar nonprofit that is reaching parents all across the country and saving thousands of babies every year.

Intent on reducing the number of SIDS cases in America, Judy and her nonprofit staff set out to discover why babies were still dying in spite of the highly successful Back to Sleep campaign by the National Institutes of Health. After poring over local death investigation forms, Bannon’s team noted a startling trend—90 percent of the babies had been found in unprotected sleeping environments such as adult beds and couches. Was it possible that these tragic deaths were due to the simple fact that parents couldn’t afford safe places for their babies to sleep? There was only one-way to find out: start educating the public about the importance of where the baby sleeps and if needed, provide safe cribs to families in need.

FIVE LADIES AND A FORKLIFT: 25TH ANNIVERSARY EDITION In this anniversary edition, a powerful epilogue takes you through the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, revealing how Cribs for Kids not only weathered the storm but emerged stronger than ever. It’s a testament to the organization’s adaptability and dedication to safeguarding the lives of the most vulnerable, even in the face of unprecedented adversity.